Material handling system that is used to transport components from one location to another

ABSTRACT

Some embodiments relate to a material handling system that is used to transport components from one location to another. The example material handling system includes a horizontal top bar and a horizontal bottom bar. A first side bar connects the horizontal top bar with the horizontal bottom bar and a second side bar connects the horizontal top bar with the horizontal bottom bar. The components are adapted to be connected to the horizontal bottom bar and the horizontal top bar.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments pertain to a material handling system, and more particularly to a material handling system that is used to transport components from one location to another.

BACKGROUND

Many conventional material handling systems use dedicated racks to transport components from one location to another. These dedicated racks usually include numerous different types of fixtures that are used to hang the components on the rack.

One of the drawbacks with these types of fixtures is that they are typically component-specific making them costly, inflexible and a challenge to store. One common application for such racks is using the racks to perform manufacturing processes on the components while they are on the rack.

One of drawbacks with using such racks in manufacturing is that it is difficult to ensure that the components are adequately secured and properly positioned during the manufacturing process. As an example, the components may fall from the rack during transportation to the manufacturing process during the manufacturing process.

Another drawback with using such racks to transport components from one location to another is that it is often difficult to move the racks between facilities. As an example the components may have to be removed from such racks when they are transported from one facility to another.

Another drawback with using conventional dedicated racks is that they can be relatively inefficient when it comes to maximizing the number of components that can be transported by a particular rack. In addition, the weight of such dedicated racks reduces the number of components that can be added to the rack before the rack may be safely transported.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an example material handling system that is used to transport components from one location to another.

FIG. 2 is an exploded front view of the example material handling system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the example material handling system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the example material handling system shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the example material handling system shown in FIG. 1 where the example material handling system is used to transport only a first set of components.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the of the example material handling system shown in FIG. 5 where the example material handling system is used to transport a first set and a second set of components.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a portion of the horizontal bottom member that is used in the example material handling system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a section view of the horizontal bottom member shown in FIG. 7 taken along line 8-8.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view similar to FIG. 7 where a first set of components and a second set of components are attached the horizontal bottom member.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged front view illustrating a bottom portion of the example material handling system shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a front view of an example load member that may be used in the material handling system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is perspective view of the example load member shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the material handling system shown in FIG. 1 mounted onto a carrier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description and the drawings sufficiently illustrate specific embodiments to enable those skilled in the art to practice them. Other embodiments may incorporate structural, logical, electrical, process, and other changes. Portions and features of some embodiments may be included in, or substituted for, those of other embodiments. Embodiments set forth in the claims encompass all available equivalents of those claims.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a material handling system 10 that is used to transport components C (see FIG. 1) from one location to another. The example material handling system 10 includes a horizontal top bar 11 and a horizontal bottom bar 12. A first side bar 13A connects the horizontal top bar 11 with the horizontal bottom bar 12 and a second side bar 13B connects the horizontal top bar 11 with the horizontal bottom bar 12.

The components C are adapted to be connected to the horizontal bottom bar 11 and the horizontal top bar 12. It should be noted that the components C may (i) be all different shapes; (ii) include some common shapes; or (iii) be the same shape. The shapes and sizes of the components C will depend in part on the application where the components C are to be used.

In the illustrated example embodiments, the horizontal top bar 11 and the horizontal bottom bar 12 are linear. It should be noted that embodiments are contemplated where the horizontal top bar 11 and the horizontal bottom bar 12 are non-linear (e.g., curved, wavy, zigzag, etc.).

In the illustrated example embodiments, the first side bar 13A and the second side bar 13B are linear. It should be noted that embodiments are contemplated where the first side bar 13A and the second side bar 13B are non-linear (e.g., curved, wavy, zigzag, etc.). In addition, although the first side bar 13A and the second side bar 13B are shown as being vertical, embodiments are contemplated where the first side bar 13A and the second side bar 13B are not vertical.

In the illustrated example embodiments, the first side bar 13A, the second side bar 13B, the horizontal top bar 11 and the horizontal bottom bar 12 are connected together in a rectangular shape (i.e., a window shape) such that the components C are within the rectangular shape as the components C are transported from one location to another. It should be noted that embodiments are contemplated where the first side bar 13A, the second side bar 13B, the horizontal top bar 11 and the horizontal bottom bar 12 are connected together in a closed non-rectangular shape (e g., square, parallelogram, pentagon, etc.).

FIG. 5 is a side view of the example material handling system 10 shown in FIG. 1 where the example material handling system 10 is used to transport only a first set of components C1. FIG. 6 is a side view of the example material handling system 10 shown in FIG. 5 where the example material handling system 10 is used to transport a first set of components C1 and a second set of components C2.

As shown in FIGS. 7-9, the horizontal bottom bar 12 may be formed as a channel 12 that includes a horizontal section 15 that extends between a first side section 16A and a second side section 16B (shown most clearly in FIG. 8). A first set of components C1 is secured to the first side section 16A and a second set of components C2 is secured to the second side section 16B.

The ability of the example material handling system 10 to transport a first set of components C1 and a second set of components C2 may allow the example material handling system 10 to increase the overall number of components that are transported from one location to another. By increasing the overall number of components that are transported from one location to another, the example material handling system 10 may improve the efficiency and/or throughput of the associated manufacturing application where the example material handling system 10 is being utilized.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged front view illustrating a bottom portion the example material handling system 10 shown in FIG. 1. In the example embodiment that is illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the example material handling system 10 includes a spring 17 that secures one or more of the components C to the horizontal bottom bar 12 such that the spring 17 connects the components C to the horizontal bottom bar 12. In addition, the example material handling system 10 may further include a hook 18 that is attached between the component(s) C and the spring 17 such that the hook 18 connects the components C to the spring 17. FIG. 1 shows an example embodiment where only hooks 18 are used to secure components C.

The spring 17 and/or the spring 17 and hook 18 combination may allow the example material handling system 10 to securely hold the components C to the top horizontal bar 11 and the bottom horizontal bar 12 as the components C are transported from one location to another. The spring 17 provides a holding force and compensates for changing component tolerances for those components C that are secured using the spring 17. It should be noted that since the components C are secured between the top horizontal bar 11 and the bottom horizontal bar 12, the components C may be well-suited (i.e., aligned and/or oriented) to permit a variety of manufacturing processes to be performed on the components C when the components C are secured to the example material handling system 10.

In addition, the spring 17 and hook 18 combinations allows for a variety of different types of components C to be secured between the top horizontal bar 11 and the bottom horizontal bar 12. Therefore, the example material handling system 10 may provide flexibility in transporting different components C and different sets of components C1, C2 from one location to another.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 11-13, the example material handling system 10 may further include a load member 30 that is attached to at least one of the horizontal top member 11 and the first and second side members 13A, 13B such that the load member 30 is positioned above the horizontal top member 11.

In the illustrated example embodiments, the horizontal top member 11, the horizontal bottom member 12 and the first and second side members 13A, 13B hang from the load member 30. In addition, the load member 30 may include a first support member 31A at one end of the load member 30 and a second support member 31B at an opposing end of the load member 30.

FIG. 13 shows an example embodiment where the load member 30 is adapted to be received by (and possibly aligned with) a carrier 40. In other embodiments, the first and second support members 31A, 31B of the load member 30 may be adapted to be received by (and possibly aligned with) another type of carrier. It should be noted that the type of carrier 40 that is adapted to receive the load member 30 will depend in part on (i) the overall size and weight of the components C; (ii) the distance that the components C need to travel; and (iii) any manufacturing processes that the components C will be subjected to as the components C are moved from one location to another (among other factors).

The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. Section 1.72(b) requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to ascertain the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to limit or interpret the scope or meaning of the claims. The following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A material handling system that is used to transport components from one location to another, the material handling system comprising: a horizontal top bar; a horizontal bottom bar; a first side bar connecting the horizontal top bar with the horizontal bottom; a second side bar connecting the horizontal top bar with the horizontal bottom bar; and wherein the components are adapted to be connected to the horizontal bottom bar and the horizontal top bar.
 2. The material handling system of claim 1, wherein the horizontal top bar and the horizontal bottom bar are linear.
 3. The material handling system of claim 1, wherein the first side bar and the second side bar are linear.
 4. The material handling system of claim 3, wherein the first side bar and the second side bar are vertical.
 5. The material handling system of claim 3, wherein the first side bar, the second side bar, the horizontal top bar and the horizontal bottom bar are connected together in a rectangular shape.
 6. The material handling system of claim 1, wherein the horizontal bottom bar is formed as a channel that includes a horizontal section that extends between a first side section and a second side section, and wherein a first set of components is secured to the first side section and a second set of components is secured to the second side section.
 7. The material handling system of claim 1, further comprising a spring that secures the components to the horizontal bottom bar such that the spring connects the components to the horizontal bottom bar.
 8. The material handling system of claim 7, further comprising a hook that is attached between the components and the spring such that the hook connects the components to the spring.
 9. The material handling system of claim 1, further comprising a load member that is attached to at least one of the horizontal top member and the first and second side members such that load member is positioned above the horizontal top member.
 10. The material handling system of claim 9, wherein the horizontal top member, the horizontal bottom member and the first and second side members hang from the load member.
 11. The material handling system of claim 9, wherein the load member includes a first support member at one end of the load member and a second support member at an opposing end of the load member, wherein the first and second support members are adapted to be received by a carrier.
 12. The material handling system of claim 11, wherein the first and second support members align the load member relative to the carrier. 